Koch, Chin abandon Everest attempt

By Dougald MacDonald

Stephen Koch and Jimmy Chin, along with their two Sherpa companions, turned back at 6,800 meters in waist-deep snow on Mt. Everest’s North Face. It was the two Americans’ second alpine-style attempt this fall on the Japanese and Hornbein couloirs, the super-direct route up the North Face. Koch intended to snowboard the face after climbing it, and Chin hoped to descend on skis. Their first attempt, in August, was plagued by warm, wet snow and was abandoned at the base of the main wall. On the second attempt, deep snow made the going very slow, and the four climbers decided they would have a tough time reaching their planned bivy site at 7,800 meters. In such unfavorable conditions, and with their permit expiring, Koch and Chin have abandoned their attempt for this year. “Until next time,” concludes Koch’s web report www.stephenkoch.com .